Central Oregon unemployment rates crept upward in June as job numbers fell
Barney Lerten
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates throughout Central Oregon continued to creep upward in June. Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment declined in all three counties over the same period, the Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday.
(Editor’s note: The following numbers in this report are not seasonally adjusted.)
Bend MSA (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties): The Bend MSA seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to increase over the month of June and is now 4.6%, up from a revised rate of 4.4% in May—in June of last year, it was 0.3 percentage point lower at 4.3%.
The Bend MSA gained 150 jobs (+0.1%) from May to June and total nonfarm employment is now 113,400. Job gains were concentrated within leisure and hospitality (+740 jobs) with most gains occurring in accommodation and food services (+650 jobs), and within trade, transportation, and utilities (+70). Other notable gains were recorded in manufacturing (+20 jobs); information (+10 jobs); and financial activities (+10 jobs).
The majority of losses occurred in private education and health services (-260 jobs) and government employment (-240 jobs) with losses primarily within local government education (-410 jobs). Other noteworthy losses occurred in professional and business services (-120 jobs); other services (-50 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (-30 jobs).
Total nonfarm employment increased by 0.1% (+80 jobs) from June 2024 to June 2025. Over-the-year job gains were concentrated within private education and health services (+530 jobs); professional and business services (+500 jobs); manufacturing (+220 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (+110 jobs).
Over-the-year losses were largest within trade, transportation, and utilities (-580 jobs) with 480 jobs lost within the retail trade subsector, and leisure and hospitality (-370 jobs) which saw accommodation and food services decrease by 310 jobs over the month. Smaller but notable job losses were also recorded in government employment (-100 jobs), primarily within local education (-540 jobs), other services (-90 jobs), financial activities (-80 jobs), and information (-60 jobs).
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly over the month of June and is now 5.3%, up from a rate of 5.2% in May—in June of last year, it was 0.1 percentage point higher at 5.4%.
Crook County saw an increase in total nonfarm employment over the month, with a gain of 100 jobs (+1.3%) in June. These gains were primarily concentrated within the public sector (+50 jobs), leisure and hospitality (+30 jobs), and professional and business services (+30 jobs) with smaller increases in construction (+20 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+10 jobs). All other major industries saw little to no change over the month.
Over the past year, the county lost 150 jobs (-2.0%). Losses were concentrated within public-sector employment, driven by losses in local government (-120 jobs). The private sector lost 40 jobs over the year, a 0.6% decrease. Notable private-sector job losses occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities (-70 jobs); information (-60 jobs); and other services (-30 jobs). Smaller losses were also seen in manufacturing (-20 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (-10 jobs). Private-sector job gains over the year were not as large and were concentrated within professional and business services (+90 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (+40 jobs), primarily within construction with a gain of 50 jobs over the year. Smaller losses were also seen in financial activities (+10 jobs) and private education and health services (+10 jobs).
Deschutes County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.5% over the month of June, slightly higher than May’s 4.4% rate. In June 2024 the unemployment rate was lower at 4.1%. The unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points above its record low of 3.3% before the onset of the pandemic.
Deschutes County total nonfarm employment saw little movement from May to June, with a slight decline of 40 jobs, and employment is now 98,690. Job gains were recorded primarily within leisure and hospitality (+670 jobs) with 590 jobs gained in accommodation and food services. Smaller but noteworthy gains also occurred within manufacturing (+60 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (+50 jobs); and information (+20 jobs).
Losses were more widespread and concentrated within government (-320 jobs) with the majority of losses seen in local government education (-380 jobs); private education and health services (-250 jobs); and professional and business services (-150 jobs). Other losses were also seen in other services (-60 jobs) and mining, logging, and construction (-60 jobs).
Total nonfarm employment decreased 0.1% (-140 jobs) from June 2024 to June 2025. Over the year, job gains were strongest in private education and health services (+450 jobs); professional and business services (+200 jobs); and manufacturing (+290 jobs). Within manufacturing durable goods had the most gains, increasing by 220 jobs over the year.
The information industry also gained 10 jobs over the year. Most over-the-year losses occurred within the trade, transportation, and utilities (-470 jobs) supersector with the retail trade subsector declining by 410 jobs, followed by losses in leisure and hospitality (-310 jobs) which lost the most jobs in accommodation and food services (250 jobs). Smaller losses were also seen in financial activities (-130 jobs); government (-120 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (-50 jobs); and other services (-10 jobs).
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in June, going from 4.7% in May to 5.0%. Last year the unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage point lower at 4.6% in June. Shortly before the first impacts from COVID-19 were felt the rate was 4.3%.
In June, total nonfarm employment increased by 30 jobs (+0.4%). Private-sector growth (+20 jobs) was led by leisure and hospitality (+30 jobs), with smaller gains of 10 jobs each in professional and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; and construction. Government employment also increased, rising by 10 jobs over the month, with all the gains taking place within local government. Job losses were not as widespread and occurred within manufacturing (-40 jobs). All other industries remained stable with little to no change.
Jefferson County’s total nonfarm employment rose by 120 jobs over the past year (+1.8%). Job gains were concentrated within the public sector (+130 jobs); professional and business services (+60 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (+40 jobs); and private education and health services (+20 jobs).
Public-sector growth was driven by both local (+80 jobs) and state (+40 jobs) government employment. Private-sector losses were stronger than private-sector gains for a total loss of 10 jobs year-over-year in the private sector. Losses occurred within leisure and hospitality (-60 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-30 jobs); manufacturing (-20 jobs); and other services (-20 jobs), while all other industries remained unchanged over the year.
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the July county and metropolitan area unemployment rates and employment survey data on Tuesday, August 19, and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for July on Wednesday, August 13.